Measuring self-control in international large-scale surveys: Development and validation of a four-item scale in English, French, German, Japanese, Polish, and Spanish.

Self-control – that is, the ability to control impulses, emotions, or actions in order to achieve goals – is associated with a broad range of positive life outcomes, such as educational attainment and health. The present study describes the development and validation of a four-item self-control scale in English, French, German, Japanese, Polish, and Spanish. We used a sample comprising 973 survey respondents from the United States to select the scale items, and a sample comprising 5,557 respondents from six countries to validate the short scale. Results suggest that with just four items, self-control can be measured in a valid, partially scalar invariant, and time-efficient way, and can be adjusted for acquiescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Source: European Journal of Psychological Assessment - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research